http://www.kurator.org/afterthenet

After the Net explores the paradoxical development of the Internet. As the current Web 2.0 hype begins to wane, the exhibition reflects upon the promises of technological progress, global networking and instantaneous communication. Presented artworks draw attention to key developments: from cybernetics to free and open source software, and social networking platforms.

Reflected in the title, the exhibition makes explicit reference to the documentary film The Net by Lutz Dammbeck (2003), and has three iterations: for Valencia (2008), Plymouth (2009) and Toluca (2010). The selection of artists is updated for each venue as a new version.

Exhibition

12 September – 23 October 2009, Peninsula Arts Gallery, University of
Plymouth, UK

Roy Ascott, Blackboard Notes (1967), special poster edition of 1000 produced for After the Net (2.0) by KURATOR / Wayne Clements, logo_wiki (2007), The Best and Worst of Possible Worlds (2009) / Geoff Cox, antisocial notworking for Arnolfini (2008), Hello World! (2008) / Lutz Dammbeck, The Net: The Unabomber, LSD and the Internet (2003) / Jeff Gompertz & Caen Botto (Universomente), Second Public Life (2009) / Rui Guerra, www_hack (2008) / Linda Hilfling, Participation 0.0 ­- Part I (2007) / Aymeric Mansoux & Marloes de Valk (GOTO10), Hello process! (2008) / Graham Harwood, Richard Wright & Matsuko Yokokoji, Tantalum Memorial (2008)

Performance

25 September 2009, Peninsula Arts Gallery, 7.00pm
4NX performance by Aymeric Mansoux

4NX is an audiovisual noise sculpture, starting with the panic of a flat signal, turning it into image then back into sound, the bootstrapping of a stochastic noise generator, the search for structure and frozen moments of accidental beauty. A cornucopia of clicks, pops and glitches. 4NX is violent but draws you into this world of chaos through its black and white aesthetics, melancholic atmosphere and unexpected shaping of raw noise into hypnotic patterns. 4NX is on ongoing research on noise aesthetics.

Lecture

22 October 2009, Theatre 2 Roland Levinsky Building, 6.30pm
Transiting the Net by Professor Roy Ascott

Cybernetics and behaviour, mind and technology, connectivity and syncretism, chance and change, constitute the parameters of practice of Roy Ascott, whose talk will chart his passage through the Net, from analogue to digital and beyond. Ascott has exhibited widely, from Venice Biennale to Ars Electronica, is published in at least twelve languages, and recognised internationally as an innovator and visionary. He is president of the Planetary Collegium at University of Plymouth.